Chapter 24: A Romantic Embrace

“You…”

Pei Zhouwu’s shock was tinged with joy, yet that joy was mixed with a trace of fear.

The words he wanted to say were scattered by astonishment; opening his mouth, he found himself unable to speak.

“I know what you want to say.” Liu Fuying leaned forward slightly, looking down at him as she spoke slowly and earnestly, word by word: “Don’t worry, I will take good care of myself. I won’t be foolish enough to put myself in danger. I still need to keep my life to repay you for saving me.”

“And…”

Liu Fuying paused, a smile appearing on her face.

“And we have an agreement. We agreed that I would come to see you on the first day of next month.”

At some point, a layer of moist mist had gathered in Pei Zhouwu’s eyes. His panicked emotions seemed to soften, soothed as he listened to Liu Fuying continue.

“I won’t break my promise. I will definitely come.”

Her smile, brighter than sunlight, seemed to carry a fragrance that refreshed the heart and mind, making Pei Zhouwu forget the pain in his body.

Liu Fuying helped him up again, and this time he no longer resisted.

Yet even with his deliberate cooperation, it still took great effort to help him back to bed. As he lay down, Liu Fuying’s body wavered unsteadily, nearly falling onto the wound on his chest.

And yet, she had already braced herself with her hands and hadn’t actually fallen.

But in the blink of an eye, she released her hands and deliberately leaned down, one arm wrapping around his neck, the other holding his shoulder. The silent embrace was still filled with the strong scent of blood, yet it became romantic because of the care of the one embracing him.

She didn’t say another word. After the embrace, she stood up and turned her back.

As she crouched to pick up the washbasin, she also discreetly picked up the incense stick that had fallen by the table leg while Pei Zhouwu wasn’t looking.

When she turned to place the basin back on the stand, she lowered her head to smell the tip of the incense.

What potent incense!

Just from leaning in for a sniff, her mind began to drift.

Moreover, the incense was clearly almost burned out, indicating how much Pei Zhouwu had inhaled. What state had he been in when he fought back in self-defense, dizzy and disoriented? How had he endured it?

Turning back, Liu Fuying hid the incense under her sleeve, not to take it away,

but to conceal it in an even deeper place.

She returned to the bedside, crouched down, and casually tossed the incense under the bed.

“Wait for me. I will come back for you.”

After saying this, she headed toward the door, listened for a while to confirm no one was outside, and then carefully opened it.

Unbeknownst to her, the moment the door closed after she left, a single tear fell from Pei Zhouwu’s eye.

His heart and mind were filled with Liu Fuying’s earlier words.

“Even if everyone in this world abandons you and doesn’t believe in you, I will never give up on you.”

And also, the embrace that had drawn tears from him.

Back when he was accused of treason, how he had wished for someone by his side to say they believed in him.

But in the end, no one did.

Not his father, not his mother—they hadn’t even come to see him once to avoid suspicion.

Of course, he understood the principle of sacrificing a pawn to save the king. The empress and the crown prince were the family’s hope. If sacrificing him could protect them, even he himself was willing. He held no resentment.

Only…

If only there had been a single word of care or trust…

A bitter smile spread from the corner of his lips. Countless figures flashed through his mind, but in the end, only one bright, smiling face remained.

“Su Yueying.”

“Su Yueying…”

He murmured her name repeatedly under his breath.

The pain in his body had already grown numb, and along with it, his consciousness had dulled. He could no longer bear the heaviness of his eyelids; everything around him blurred, yet Liu Fuying’s face in his mind remained exceptionally clear, growing sharper and sharper.

“Su… Yueying.”

On the other end, Liu Fuying, who had just emerged from the water, seemed to sense something as well. Floating on the surface, she glanced back.

Her heart was heavy with worry, hoping only that Pei Zhouwu would hold on.

Otherwise, she would have to start all over again, searching for another man.

Shen Xiunian’s health had already greatly improved, and he would inevitably return to the battlefield sooner or later. If she only conceived long after he left, it would invite rumors that the child was illegitimate.

But if Pei Zhouwu could survive this ordeal, he would likely begin to truly open up to her.

In that case, a child would not be far off.

“Madam, be careful. Let me help you up.”

Jin Li stood on the shore behind her, carefully pulling her up.

At this moment, Liu Fuying was soaked through, making it an inopportune time to return.

Fortunately, the woods were deserted; even if she removed her clothes, no one would see. She spread them out on the rocky shore to bake in the sun, and they would dry in no time.

After all, visiting the Taoist Temple to burn incense required time as well.

Once completely dry, she returned to the carriage. The coachman was dozing off but quickly lifted the curtain upon seeing her return, allowing her to board. With only two women present, he dared not look too closely, and with veils and long sleeves covering their faces, the coachman likely hadn’t even gotten a good look at their appearances.

After descending the mountain and entering the city, Jin Li instructed the coachman to stop the carriage outside an inn in the city.

Liu Fuying had no intention of returning to the Shen Family, nor did she plan to go back to the Liu Family.

While arranging a room with the innkeeper, whispers and murmurs filled the hall.

“Speaking of the Liu Family, they really don’t know how to curry favor. A mere fifth-rank official, yet their daughter married into the General’s Mansion. They ought to treat her with respect and importance. But what happened? When their married daughter finally returned home, not only was there no cup of warm tea, but there wasn’t even a place for her to sit. Such neglect is enough to chill anyone’s heart.”

“Exactly. I heard the General’s Madam didn’t stay long before leaving.”

“Ah, mistreated in her husband’s home and slighted in her parents’ home. I heard she returned to her family today because she quarreled with General Shen over the issue of heirs.”

“What’s there to quarrel about? If my wife went to pray and burn incense for me to have children day in and day out, I’d be nothing but grateful.”

“Who wouldn’t? The General’s Madam truly lives a pitiful life.”

“…”

The General’s Madam they spoke of was, of course, Liu Fuying.

The rumors had already spread, yet when the subject herself stood before them, none recognized her.

These rumors had been spread earlier by Jin Li, on Liu Fuying’s orders, just before they left.

She needed to leave the city, and if she returned to the Liu Family only to disappear, the Liu Family would surely search for her. If they went to the Shen Family and still couldn’t find her, it might cause a commotion, drawing everyone’s attention to her whereabouts. By then, rumors would fly, and it would be hard to predict how ugly they might become. There was also the risk of her leaving the city being discovered.

Better to spread the rumors herself first.

Shangjing City was like this—rumors could crush a person more effectively than the truth.

And places like taverns and inns were the easiest for spreading rumors. Next to the inn was a large tavern.

At noon, Jin Li returned to the inn room carrying a food box.

“Madam, I have done everything as you instructed. The news should spread soon.”

“Good.” Liu Fuying pulled Jin Li down to sit, letting her catch her breath.

“Madam, will this really save Marquis Pei?”